. >> reporter: secretary of defense leon panetta confirms the department of defense is investigating allen and a senior u.s. defense official says the inquiry centers around potentially inappropriate e- mails with jill kelley, the florida woman who sparked an investigation that led to petraeus's resignation as head of the c.i.a. >> if you know my sister, like i said, she's a dedicated mother and dedicated wife. >> reporter: she first went to the f.b.i. when she left threatening e- mails from an anonymous source. the e-mails were allegedly linked to paula broadwell. broadwell was having an affair with petraeus and reportedly believed kelley was a romantic rival. the agency would not say what it was looking for, only that broadwell agreed to a search ahead of time. petraeus resigned friday when word of the affair became public. >> it's a tragic turn of events for someone who had contributed so much to this country. >> reporter: general allen is in washington, d.c. for senate confirmation hearings for his new job as head of the u.s. european command. however, president obama has now agr